Today’s Google Doodle is a treat for food enthusiasts, celebrating the delicious and versatile Mexican dish, chilaquiles. This delightful dish, which I coincidentally enjoyed twice this week, takes center stage thanks to the creative work of Oakland-based guest artist Chava Oropesa.
Chilaquiles, a beloved breakfast staple, are deceptively simple yet endlessly customizable. At its core, the dish consists of fried tortilla strips or chips, enchilada sauce, cheese, and a fried egg or two. The process is straightforward: cover the chips in enchilada sauce and cheese, heat them up, top with eggs, and enjoy. It’s a quick, easy, and delicious meal!
The beauty of chilaquiles lies in its regional variations across Mexico. Depending on where you are, the dish might be topped with avocado, guacamole, salsa, cotija cheese, melted queso, jalapenos, or even slow-cooked pork or chicken. For those feeling adventurous, you could experiment with a green chile gravy for a unique fusion of biscuits and gravy with chilaquiles, possibly accompanied by corn muffins.
This Google Doodle serves as a perfect reminder for those who haven’t tried chilaquiles yet. You can choose between red or green enchilada sauce, and while store-bought sauce is perfectly acceptable, making it from scratch can elevate the dish. A crucial tip: avoid overcooking the eggs; the yolk should remain runny. For an extra touch, consider making your own tortillas for tacos at dinner, then frying the leftovers for breakfast the next day.
Chilaquiles have ancient roots tracing back to the Aztec civilization, though they were introduced to American cuisine by Encarnación Pinedo in her 1898 cookbook, “The Spanish Cook.” While I’ve enjoyed chilaquiles both in Mexico and at various U.S. restaurants, I often prefer making them at home.
While other breakfast foods like hash browns with runny eggs, homemade biscuits and gravy, breakfast tacos, and huckleberry pancakes all have their merits, chilaquiles hold a special place in my heart. If I had to choose just one breakfast for life, chilaquiles would be the winner.
